CapeTalk Highlights

Following a conversation with Gregg Skirton, who raised concerns with regards to the City of Cape Town's website not protecting residents personal information, CapeTalk's Kieno Kammies chats to Mayco member for Corporate
Services, Raelene Arendse.

According to Arendse, the information available on the City's website is not linked to an identifiable person as stipulated in the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI).

I can only establish addresses and these addresses are not linked to an identifiable person.

— Raelene Arendse, Mayco member for Corporate Services

Arendse also addressed the suggestion that the information provided is making residents vulnerable to criminals who could pose as City employees to gain access to their property.

I want to stress that it always remains the responsibility of every member of the public to verify the identity of someone claiming to be City official by insisting that the official identification be presented before allowing them onto their property.

— Raelene Arendse, Mayco member for Corporate Services

She says that the service on their website has been in operation for the past ten years and they have never had anyone report a criminal activity that happened on their property as a result of the information displayed on the website.

There's not been a single incident resulting in someone gaining illegal access to property as a result there of.

— Raelene Arendse, Mayco member for Corporate Services

To hear the rest of the conversation with the City's Raelene Arendse, listen below: